Louise-Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun by Judith Lissauer Cromwell | GSMC Book Review Podcast

Sarah has a conversation with acclaimed biographer Judith Lissauer Cromwell to discuss her compelling biography, Louise-Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun: Portrait of an Artist, 1755–1842. This captivating work chronicles the extraordinary life of Louise-Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, one of the most celebrated portrait artists of the 18th and early 19th centuries.Best known as the favored painter of Marie Antoinette, Vigée Le Brun rose to prominence in a male-dominated art world, overcoming barriers that denied women formal artistic training. Her luminous portraits of European royalty and aristocracy now hang in some of the world’s most prestigious museums. But at the height of her fame, the French Revolution forced her into exile, separating her from her homeland and reshaping her career.In this insightful conversation, Cromwell shares the research behind the biography, drawing from Vigée Le Brun’s memoirs, archival sources, and historical reevaluation. Sarah and Judith explore themes of artistic ambition, motherhood, survival during political upheaval, and the resilience required to rebuild a career across a continent in turmoil. They also discuss the artist’s twelve-year exile, her return to France after Napoleon restored stability, and her enduring legacy as a pioneering woman in art history.If you’re passionate about historical biography, women artists, French history, or stories of perseverance, this episode offers rich context and inspiration. Tune in to discover how talent, charisma, and determination secured Vigée Le Brun’s place in art history.If you enjoyed this episode, follow and subscribe to the show: you can find us on iTunes or on any app that carries podcasts as well as on YouTube. Please remember to subscribe and give us a nice review. This way you will always be among the first to get the latest GSMC Book Review Podcasts. We would like to thank our Sponsor: GSMC Podcast NetworkApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gsmc-book-review-podcast/id1123769087GSMC YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-EKO3toL1ATwitter: https://twitter.com/GSMC_BookReviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GSMCBookReview/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gsmcbookreviewTiktok: @gsmcbookreviewBluesky: @gsmcbookreview.bsky.socialThreads: @gsmc_bookreviewGSMC Podcast Network YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@gsmcpodcastnetwork GSMC Sports Network YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GSMCSportsNetwork. GSMC Entertainment Network YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GSMCEntertainmentNetwork GSMC News Network YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GSMCNEWSNETWORK Disclaimer: The views expressed on the GSMC Book Review Podcast are for entertainment purposes only. Reproduction, copying, or redistribution of The GSMC Book Review Podcast without the express written consent of Golden State Media Concepts LLC is prohibited.